Stuck on Classics

In the past month I've had three different conversations with people basically saying the same thing--the books my kids have to read in high school English are making them hate reading. The timing is incredible, since all I'm thinking about these days is YA lit and how to get those darned teenagers to read. Here's what went down:

#1 is a friend who teaches English at an inner city school. She is required to teach Catcher in the Rye to her predominately minority students. They have no interest, don't read it and don't care. Teacher is sad and frustrated, but locked into the book by administration.

#2 Is a parent whose son had to read Catcher and Lord of the Flies for AP English. Hated both. Swore to his mom he'd never take another English class. In his life.

#3 Is a substitute teacher at my school who looking for a sympathetic ear shared that her son had to read Of Mice and Men for 10th grade English. He hated it, and has lost his love of reading.

With so much required reading, many teens don't have time (or make time) for recreational reading. If we are sticking to classics that have lost their relevance in the lives of today's teens, aren't we doing them a disservice? Even King Dork got it--the Catcher Cult. Holding tight to the one book everyone has to read. Having just read books of high quality like American Born Chinese, Unwind, Hunger Games I am sure that these would be of strong interest to teens.

Choosing books that have relevance to today's teens as required reading selections would go a long way to encouraging a love of reading as our teens approach adulthood.

I'm worried about this pattern of readers losing the joy.